--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It simply cannot be that the president…" description: "\"It simply cannot be that the president can name his own temporary attorney general to supervise an investigation in which he and his family have a dire..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/neal-katyal-8085_attorney-general_it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-c_2642745.jpg" --- # It simply cannot be that the president can name his own… ![“It simply cannot be that the president can name his own temporary attorney general to supervise an investigation in which he and his family have a direct, concrete interest.” quote by Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/neal-katyal-8085_attorney-general_it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-c_2642745.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/neal-katyal-8085_attorney-general_it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-c_2642745.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/neal-katyal-8085_attorney-general_it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-c_2642745.jpg) > “It simply cannot be that the president can name his own temporary attorney general to supervise an investigation in which he and his family have a direct, concrete interest.” [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A president should not oversee an investigation where he has a personal stake, as it undermines impartiality. **In simple terms:** Conflict of interest harms justice. Key Takeaway Demand independent oversight. Themes law ethics government Mood critical concerned Type political legal When to use this quote - court cases - legislative hearings - media analysis Key Concepts separation of powers conflict of interest Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent abuse? - How does public trust depend on impartiality? A Different Perspective Legal frameworks may allow limited oversight; not absolute. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attorney general](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attorney-general/) [Cannot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannot/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Investigation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigation/) [Investigation Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigation-family-2282698/) [Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/name/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [President Temporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-temporary-2282697/) [Supervise Investigation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supervise-investigation-2282700/) [Temporary Attorney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temporary-attorney-2282699/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [The idea that the special counsel regulations, which were written to provide the public with confidence against a coverup, would empower an attorney general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-idea-that-the-special-counsel-regulations-which-were-written-to/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [While President Obama may not have ordered any surveillance of Trump or his advisors, the real question is whether he or Attorney General Loretta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/while-president-obama-may-not-have-ordered-any-surveillance-of-trump/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [It's disingenuous and wrong to say that the attorney general's expanded powers in the Patriot Act come with adequate oversight by the courts, ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-romero/it-s-disingenuous-and-wrong-to-say-that-the-attorney-general-s/) [Anthony Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-romero/) > [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I explained to the president that I've been pleased with my conversations with the Attorney General and Civil Rights Division regarding their helpful understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blunt/i-explained-to-the-president-that-i-ve-been-pleased-with-my/) [Roy Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blunt/) > [There was certainly merit to the criticism that the deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had about how James Comey handled the Hillary Clinton investigation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/there-was-certainly-merit-to-the-criticism-that-the-deputy-attorney/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [We haven't seen a situation where you have the FBI director talk about an investigation side by side with the attorney general who confirms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/we-haven-t-seen-a-situation-where-you-have-the-fbi-director-talk/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [The public has every right to see Robert S. Mueller III's conclusions. Absolutely nothing in the law or the regulations prevents the report from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-public-has-every-right-to-see-robert-s-mueller-iii-s-conclusions/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [If Barr wants to keep defending Trump, he should take a page from one of his predecessors, Henry Stanbery, who stepped down as attorney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/if-barr-wants-to-keep-defending-trump-he-should-take-a-page-from-one/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [Some commentators have attacked the special counsel regulations as giving the attorney general the power to close a case against the president, as Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/some-commentators-have-attacked-the-special-counsel-regulations-as/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [No responsible scholar who thinks a sitting president cannot be indicted also thinks an attorney general can try to truncate a process of oversight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/no-responsible-scholar-who-thinks-a-sitting-president-cannot-be/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [Everything having to do with President Trump and Russia, whether it is Mr. Trump's demand for an investigation into the investigation by the special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/everything-having-to-do-with-president-trump-and-russia-whether-it-is/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [Protecting the rights of service members was an important part of my work as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/protecting-the-rights-of-service-members-was-an-important-part-of-my/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [My wife and daughters work. My campaign manager in 2005 was a working mother. I appointed 5 women to my senior staff as Attorney General.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/my-wife-and-daughters-work-my-campaign-manager-in-2005-was-a-working/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) ## More by Neal Katyal > [Presidents routinely testify in criminal cases. You know, George W. Bush did it with Valerie Plame. Bill Clinton did it three times with Ken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/presidents-routinely-testify-in-criminal-cases-you-know-george-w-bush/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [I used to walk down the Justice Department on the fifth floor and see all those portraits of legendary attorneys general, Griffin Bell and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-used-to-walk-down-the-justice-department-on-the-fifth-floor-and-see/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [The Supreme Court should televise its proceedings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-supreme-court-should-televise-its-proceedings/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [People tend to take more risks in groups than alone. For these reasons, the law has always treated conspiracy harshly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/people-tend-to-take-more-risks-in-groups-than-alone-for-these-reasons/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [The Supreme Court has been very clear: when it comes to religious discrimination, you can take intent into consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-supreme-court-has-been-very-clear-when-it-comes-to-religious/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [I like doing scholarship for its own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-like-doing-scholarship-for-its-own-sake/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [I have no doubt that if confirmed, Judge Gorsuch would help to restore confidence in the rule of law. His years on the bench…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-have-no-doubt-that-if-confirmed-judge-gorsuch-would-help-to-restore/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [My wife is a doctor at a veteran's hospital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/my-wife-is-a-doctor-at-a-veteran-s-hospital/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [There is no doubt that dissents can serve a useful role by explaining when a justice thinks the majority has gone off the deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/there-is-no-doubt-that-dissents-can-serve-a-useful-role-by-explaining/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [One of our Constitution's greatest virtues is that it looks to judges as a source of reasoned, practical, rights-minded decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/one-of-our-constitution-s-greatest-virtues-is-that-it-looks-to-judges/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [I generally sleep about four hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-generally-sleep-about-four-hours/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [Appellate advocacy, particularly at the Supreme Court, is really intimate. I mean, you're just a few feet away from the Chief Justice. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/appellate-advocacy-particularly-at-the-supreme-court-is-really/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [Even though Mr. Trump can give his campaign as much of his own money as he wants to, he can't ask other people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/even-though-mr-trump-can-give-his-campaign-as-much-of-his-own-money/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [No responsible scholar who thinks a sitting president cannot be indicted also thinks an attorney general can try to truncate a process of oversight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/no-responsible-scholar-who-thinks-a-sitting-president-cannot-be/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [Justice Scalia was usually particularly challenging to me at oral argument, but I so respected his intellect and commitment to the pursuit of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/justice-scalia-was-usually-particularly-challenging-to-me-at-oral/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) [Explore all 84 Neal Katyal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) ## More Attorney general quotes > [My wife and daughters work. My campaign manager in 2005 was a working mother. I appointed 5 women to my senior staff as Attorney General.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/my-wife-and-daughters-work-my-campaign-manager-in-2005-was-a-working/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Protecting the rights of service members was an important part of my work as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/protecting-the-rights-of-service-members-was-an-important-part-of-my/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [“The farm labor movement saw him as a racist. He seemed to delight in the most outrageous snubs. Farm labor organizer Cesar Chavez was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-bommersbach/the-farm-labor-movement-saw-him-as-a-racist-he-seemed-to-delight-in/) [Jana Bommersbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-bommersbach/) > [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [It was a privilege to serve as the assistant attorney general for civil rights, a role that allowed me to enforce the Civil Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/it-was-a-privilege-to-serve-as-the-assistant-attorney-general-for/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [In other words, under Attorney General John Ashcroft, the FBI, the INS and the Department of Justice are so out of control that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/in-other-words-under-attorney-general-john-ashcroft-the-fbi-the-ins/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Our country is fortunate to have Bill Barr, a man of integrity who has served two U.S. Presidents, as our Attorney General.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/our-country-is-fortunate-to-have-bill-barr-a-man-of-integrity-who-has/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) > [If I am going to pick and choose the laws I defend, I wouldn't be doing my duty as attorney general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/if-i-am-going-to-pick-and-choose-the-laws-i-defend-i-wouldn-t-be/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [We've done amazing things for the state. Some of them have had a national impact, but I'm going to be ready for some new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-madigan/we-ve-done-amazing-things-for-the-state-some-of-them-have-had-a/) [Lisa Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-madigan/) > [“records in any form I request under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act within thirty days and for a reasonable handling and processing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-rosenthal/records-in-any-form-i-request-under-the-health-insurance-portability/) [Elisabeth Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-rosenthal/) > [Since my election as Oklahoma attorney general in 2010, I have been a proud member of a group of federalism-minded state attorneys general who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/since-my-election-as-oklahoma-attorney-general-in-2010-i-have-been-a/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Now, how do you explain Obama's claim, that he can kill American citizens without due process? Well, he has his attorney general get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/now-how-do-you-explain-obama-s-claim-that-he-can-kill-american/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [What disturbed me most, frankly, about the Rod Rosenstein memo, is the fact it was addressed to the attorney general. The attorney general was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/what-disturbed-me-most-frankly-about-the-rod-rosenstein-memo-is-the/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [Our laws are very clear on a woman's reproductive health care. I will not only enforce those laws as attorney general, I will take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-donovan/our-laws-are-very-clear-on-a-woman-s-reproductive-health-care-i-will/) [Dan Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-donovan/) [Browse all 289 Attorney general quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attorney-general/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It simply cannot be that the president can name his own temporary attorney general to supervise an investigation in which he and his family have a direct, concrete interest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Katyal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-can-name-his-own-temporary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attorney general" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-can-name-his-own-temporary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/neal-katyal-8085_attorney-general_it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-c_2642745.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/neal-katyal-8085_attorney-general_it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-c_2642745.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/neal-katyal-8085_attorney-general_it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-c_2642745.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It simply cannot be that the president can name his own temporary attorney general to supervise an…” — Neal Katyal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neal Katyal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It simply cannot be that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-can-name-his-own-temporary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/it-simply-cannot-be-that-the-president-can-name-his-own-temporary/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```